12 Jun It takes a church
I am sure you are all aware of the saying ?it takes a village?. It is a common saying that communicates the need for a community of people to raise a child. I look back on my childhood with thankfulness for the many people who played such an influential role in raising this hard headed and energetic kid. I can name many families, coaches, teachers, and neighbors who played an influential role in shaping me to become the person that I am today. I am thankful that my parents allowed other people to be involved in my upbringing, because it provided me different perspectives and these people were able to teach me things about life that my parents weren?t able to. Don?t mishear me, my parents are the absolute best, but I think it’s naive to think that they are equipped to teach me everything that I need to know about life. I think the same is true for discipleship. I?d like to revise the phrase ?it takes a village? and change it to ?it takes a church?.
My wife Camille and I have the privilege of leading Summer LINK Anderson this year and we are excited to see how the Lord will transform our team, including us, these next few months. But we would be foolish that think that we could do it alone. Our situation is a little unique because Camille works a full time job and I work two jobs, while most Summer LINK Directors are either full-time staffers at a church or year-long residents. Because of this, our availability is limited to the evenings and weekends. At first Camille and I weren?t sure that we could handle the responsibility of leading Summer LINK while working over 40 hours a week, and to be honest, we still aren?t sure we can. But what makes this program so great, and the reason why we believe in it, is because we don?t have to do it alone. And if we want to be successful, we can?t afford to do it alone.
The reason we took the opportunity to lead Summer LINK this year was because we believed in our church family. We believe in the people and DNA of Renewal Church. At Renewal Church, Summer LINK is a church wide discipleship program. It doesn?t fall on the shoulders of one person, or one couple. It is a responsibility of the church body, and for that I am extremely thankful. I?m thankful that Camille and I do not have to carry the weight of leading Summer LINK alone. I am thankful that there are godly men and women who will speak the truth of the gospel into the lives of our interns this summer. I am thankful that there are men and women who will invite our interns into their home this summer for socials and family dinners. I am thankful that that our interns will hear from people others than Camille and I, because there are people within our church body who have ran this race called the Christian Life a lot longer and harder than we have. And most importantly, I am thankful for Jesus because he has given us the Church. Let?s use all that the Church has to offer this year. More than ever, I believe that ?it takes a church? for effective discipleship to take place.
Addison Hamrick
Summer LINK Anderson